An apparatus suitable for detecting radiation, comprising: a radiation absorption layer comprising a semiconductor, a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the first electrical contact positioned across the semiconductor from the second electrical contact; a DC-to-DC converter configured to apply a DC voltage between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the DC-to-DC converter comprising micro-electromechanical switches.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An apparatus suitable for detecting radiation, comprising: a radiation absorption layer comprising a semiconductor, a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the first electrical contact positioned across the semiconductor from the second electrical contact; a DC-to-DC converter configured to apply a DC voltage between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the DC-to-DC converter comprising micro-electromechanical switches; wherein the DC-to-DC converter is configured to receive a clock signal and to control the micro-electromechanical switches with the clock signal and an inversion thereof.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the DC-to-DC converter comprises multiple stages, wherein each of the stages comprises a capacitor and at least one of the micro-electromechanical switches.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the micro-electromechanical switches comprises a cantilever beam, electrical contacts and a control electrode.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the micro-electromechanical switches are configured to open or close by changing a voltage on the control electrode.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the micro-electromechanical switches comprise silicon, SiO 2 , Si 3 N 4 , polysilicon, or a combination thereof.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are configured to collect charge carriers generated by radiation particles absorbed by the radiation absorption layer.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a first voltage comparator configured to compare a voltage of the second electrical contact to a first threshold; a second voltage comparator configured to compare the voltage to a second threshold; a counter configured to register a number of radiation particles absorbed by the radiation absorption layer; a controller; wherein the controller is configured to start a time delay from a time at which the first voltage comparator determines that an absolute value of the voltage equals or exceeds an absolute value of the first threshold; wherein the controller is configured to activate the second voltage comparator during the time delay; wherein the controller is configured to cause the number registered by the counter to increase by one, if the second voltage comparator determines that an absolute value of the voltage equals or exceeds an absolute value of the second threshold.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the second voltage comparator at a beginning or expiration of the time delay.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a voltmeter, wherein the controller is configured to cause the voltmeter to measure the voltage upon expiration of the time delay.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to determine radiation particle energy based on a value of the voltage measured upon expiration of the time delay.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to connect the second electrical contact to an electric ground.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein a rate of change of the voltage is substantially zero at expiration of the time delay.
13. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein a rate of change of the voltage is substantially non-zero at expiration of the time delay.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a capacitor module electrically connected to the second electrical contact, wherein the capacitor module is configured to collect charge carriers from the second electrical contact.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radiation absorption layer comprises a diode.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radiation absorption layer comprises silicon, germanium, GaAs, CdTe, CdZnTe, or a combination thereof.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus does not comprise a scintillator.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprises a GPS receiver configured to record a location of radiation detected by the apparatus.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprises a display configured to show information of radiation detected by the apparatus.
20. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprises a wireless transmitter configured to transmit information of radiation detected by the apparatus to a receiving device.
21. A system comprising the apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the system is selected from a group consisting of a radiation detection ID card, a radiation detection badge, a radiation detection pen, a piece of radiation prevention apparel, a radiation detection wristband, a radiation detection watch, a radiation detection headphone, a radiation detection cell phone accessory, and a food radiation detection apparatus, and a household radiation detector.
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April 21, 2020
April 12, 2022
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